Measuring device



A ril 16, 1935. s. J. FINN MEASURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1951 Patented Apr. 1c, 1935 l- 1,997,721

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURING DEVICE Sidney J. Finn, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 6, 1931, Serial No. 513,922

18 Claims. (Cl. 33-3) This invention relates to measuring devices and often imparting to the foot a tendency to roll is illustrated herein as'embodied in a device for toward one side or the other and eventually remeasuring the bottom surface of a cast of the sulting in the muscles of the foot becoming comlower portion of a foot. p y u ba a ced- 5 It is well known that the bones of the foot are In my copending application for Letters Patent 5 arranged substantially in the form of two disof the United States Serial No. 502,165 filed Dec. tinct arches, a main or longitudinal arch extend- '13, 1930, there is disclosed a novel method of making from the os calsis to the headset the first and ing lasts for use in the manufacture of corrective fifth metatarsals and a secondary or transverse or orthop e Shoes made p these lasts arch extending at the distall or front'ends of the a pr d W t a space for th ns ti n f 10 metatarsal bones transversely of the ball of the filler pieces fOOt molds between the feet of the foot and forming a dome-like shape between the wearer of the shoes and the inner surfaces of the first and fifth metatarsals. This transverse arch 80165 of the ShOeS- These filler pieces are forms a portion of and supports the forward end ranged o Su p the es a d uscles of t e of the longitudinal arch. 'The bones in these feet a to Corr t Weakness and deformity of 15 arches are not self-sustaining but are held in their the a S a 1111150165 and to restore p p respective arched formation by the fibrous, inelasanatomical posture to the feet- Accordingly, it tic ligaments which unite them at their points is necessary that the positions of the arches of of articulation, a strata of supporting muscles the feet of the individual for whom the shoes are bein arran d t t th bones hi h by th i to be made be accurately determined in order that 20 contraction and relaxation produce motion and the Shoes When completed W have the p p locomotion and enable the foot to support and to corrective influence Oh the feetbalance the weight f the body, F an exam- In practicing the method disclosed and claimed ination of the bony structure of the foot it will in my p d s app a i r d t a v be readily seen that the weight-bearing-points on casts are obtained of the feet of the wearer for 25 the human foot are the heel or os calsis and the Whom the Shoes are to bemade from impressions heads of the first and fifth metatarsals. Normally 0f the feet taken in a plattie material, the feet these Weight bearing points are in the same horibeing positioned during the taking of the m s-- zontal plane. Howev r, as soon as th font, is sions so that the vertical center lines of the heel 0 placed in the usual heeled ShOB the heel of the ends of the feet will be at right angles to the horiwearer is raised relatively to the forepart of the Zontalfoot and consequently not only are the longitu- Since the vbottom surfaces of these casts duplidinal and transverse arches of the foot displaced Gate in detail the features of the bottoms of the but the weight of the body is thrown more heavily feet from which y a made it will be readily 3.3 on th forepart, of t t because of t 1 seen that the positions of the arches of the foot tion of the heel. This displacement of the arches relatively to each Other a d t the e end of the of the foot frequently causes the ligaments att ay be a u a h' determined by asu g tached to the bones of the r h t become the bottom surface of the cast with the vertical strained and stretched to such an extent that Center line of the heel end eof at right an les there is a general subluxation of the various arto e predetermined Plane of reference. f these 40 ticulations which if not corrected will further remeasurements disclose a displacement of e sult in a complete breaking down of the arches of arches 0f the foot, the inserted filler piece ay the foot. be constructed with a transverse wedge, that is Since the bones of the foot aregiven their prin- W One edge of greater thickness an the Other i al support by the ligaments and are only conso that the displaced arch will be lifted into cor- 45 trolled by the muscles and their attachments it rective position. This lifting of the displaced arch should be evident from the foregoing that if relieves the strain on the muscles and ligaments either the longitudinal or transverse arch of the of that arch and tends to restore the entire foot is insufficiently supported by the ligaments muscular organization of the foot to a balanced the muscular power of that arch will be insufiicondition. 50

cient properly to support and to balance its share In view of the above, it is an object of the presof the weight of the body with the result that the ent invention to provide a device constructed and Weight-bearing points of the forepart portion of arranged to facilitate the above-mentioned measr the foot will become displaced relatively to each uring operation. In the attainment of this obother and to the heel nd of th ee t reby j ct and in accordance with one feature of the iniii vention the illustrated device is provided with a frame and means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of the foot with the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to a plane of reference formed on the frame. As illustrated herein the supporting means is adjustable relatively to the frame and, in accordance with another feature of the invention, means is provided for further controlling the position of the supporting means so that the heel end and one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be positioned in or parallel to the plane of reference while the relation of the other side of the cast to the plane of reference is measured.

With the above and other objects and features in view the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with a cast of the lower portion of the foot in position to be measured; and

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The illustrated device comprises a frame consisting of a base H! having side members I2, I 2 secured thereto, the upper surfaces l4, M of which are in the same plane. A support or positioning plate i6 is provided having pins i8, 20 extending equal distances above its upper surface and a movable wedge 22. The wedge 22 is movable lengthwise of the support It in a guideway 24 by means of a handle 26. The support 16 is pivoted at 28 to the upper end of a swinging plate or lever 3t", the lower end of which is pivoted at 32 to the base H] of the device. A block 34 is interposed between the forward end of the support l6 and the upper surface of the lever 30, and is movable by means of a handle 38 lengthwise of the lever 30 in a guideway 36 formed on the upper surface of the lever 30. A second block 40, movable by means of a handle 42 lengthwise of the device in a guideway 44 formed on the upper surface of the base 10, supports the free end of the swinging lever 30. In operation the support N5 of the device is positioned normally in parallel relation to the base In. A cast 50 of the lower portion of a foot is then placed in inverted position upon the pins I 8, 20 and the wedge 22. The pin I8 is arranged to support the heel end of the cast in the center thereof while the opposite sides of the forepart of the cast are supported by the pin 20, and the wedge 22. It will be readily seen that the cast 50 may be rocked transversely or widthwise of the device on the pin l8 by movement of the wedge 22 either forwardly or rearwardly on the support l6 until the vertical center line 52 of the heel end of the cast 50 is located at right angles to the upper surface of the support I6 and to the plane of the measuring surfaces !4, l4. If the foot of the individual for whom the shoes are to be made is in a balanced muscular condition, that is, if the arches of the foot are not displaced, the opposite sides of the forepart of the cast 50 will be in the same plane as the base of the heel portion of the cast and in the plane of the measuring surfaces l4, l4 when the vertical center line of the heel portion is located at right angles to the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members I2. However, if the feet of the individual are in an unbalanced muscular condition the forepart of each cast 50 will be distorted relatively to the heel end thereof (Fig. 3), and consequently only one side of the forepart of the cast will be located in the same plane as the base of the heel portion of the cast and the surfaces I 4, M are located. The blocks 36, G0 are movable in their respective guideways to position the bottom surface of the cast 50 with its heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the cast in the same plane with the surfaces l4, M of the side members l2, l2. With the cast 50 positioned as above described it will be readily seen that the positions of the arches of the foot relatively to each other and to the heel end of the foot may be accurately determined by measuring from the surfaces l4, M to the opposite sides of the forepart of the cast 50. This may be done by taking measurements, for example, with a straight-edge 54 and a rule 58, from the plane of the surfaces H, M to the opposite sides of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast 50. If these measurements show the foot of the individual to be in an unbalanced muscular condition the inserted filler-piece may be constructed so that the foot will be supported in a proper corrective position.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a frame having measuring surfaces located in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a cast :5

of the lower portion of a foot with the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the plane of said measuring surfaces. and means for adjusting the supporting means to position the heel end and at least one side of the predetermined plane, means for supporting a cast I of the lower portion of a foot with its heel end and at least one side of its forepart in or parallel to said plane, and means for adjusting said supporting means to position the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to said plane.

3. A device of the class described comprising a frame having a pair of measuring surfaces disposed in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of a. foot with the vertical center line of the heel end thereof at right angles to said plane, and means for adjusting the last-named means to position the heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast in or parallel to said plane.

4. A device of the class described comprising a frame having a pair of plane measuring surfaces formed thereon, means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of the foot, said means being arranged to rock the cast transversely to position the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to the plane of the measuring surfaces, and means for adjusting the supporting means to position the heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast in or parallel to said plane.

5. A device of the class described comprising a frame having measuring surfaces disposed in a predetermined plane, and means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of a foot comprising members for engaging the cast under the heel end and under opposite sides of the forcpart, one of said members being adjustable to position the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to said plane.

6. A device of the class described comprising a frame having measuring surfaces disposed in a predetermined plane, and means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of a foot with the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to said predetermined plane and for positioning the heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast in or parallel to said plane while maintaining the angular position of said vertical center line.

Z. A device of the class described comprising a frame having measuring surfaces thereon disposed in a predetermined plane, and means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of a foot with the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to said plane, said means being also arranged to position the heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast in or parallel to said predetermined plane while maintaining unchanged the angular relation of said vertical center line to said plane.

, 8. A device of the class described comprising a rectangular frame having measuring surfaces disposed in a predetermined plane, means for supporting a cast of the lower portion of a foot, said means being arranged also to rock the cast transversely of its longitudinal axis to position the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the plane of the measuring surfaces, and means for rocking the cast longitudinally to position the heel end and at least one side of the bottom surface of the cast in or parallel to said predetermined plane.

9. A device of the class described comprising a base, a support for a cast of the lower portion of a foot, means movable longitudinally of the support for rocking the cast transversely with respect to the base, and means for rocking the support longitudinally with respect to the base whereby the heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be positioned in the same plane.

l0.v A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in the same plane, a plurality of members for supporting a cast of the foot, means for relatively adjusting the supporting members to position the cast transversely of the device, and means for adjusting the supporting members relatively to the base whereby the heel end and forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be moved into the plane of the upper surface of the side members.

11. A device of the class described comprising a base, a movable member carried by said base and having means thereon for supporting a cast of the lower portion of afoot with the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to a plane of reference, said means being adjustable lengthwise relatively to said movable member, and means for adjusting the position of said movable member with respect to the base whereby the heel end and forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be moved in or parallel to said plane.

12. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in the same plane, an adjustable support carried by the base and having means thereon arranged to support a cast of the lower portion of a foot with the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the upper surface of the support, and

means for adjusting the support relatively to the base whereby the heel end and the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be moved into the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members.

13. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in the same plane, an adjustable plate, means for supporting the plate above the base, means carried by the plate constructed and arranged to support a cast of the lower portion of a foot with the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the upper surface of the plate, and means for adjusting the plate with respect to the base whereby the heel end and forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be moved into the plane of the upper surfaces. of the side members.

14. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are located in the same plane, an adjustable plate, means whereby said plate is carried by the base, a plurality of members carried by the plate and arranged to support a cast of the lower portion of a foot with the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the upper surface of the plate, and means for adjusting the plate with respect to the base to bring the heel endand at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast into the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members.

15. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in a common plane, a swinging plate pivotally mounted on the base, a positioning plate pivotally secured to said swinging plate, means carried by the positioning plate for supporting a cast of the bottom portion of a foot, said means being constructed and arranged to support the cast with the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the upper surface of the positioning plate, and means for adjusting the positions of the plates relatively to the base to bring the heel end and the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast into the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members.

16. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in the same plane, a swinging plate pivotally mounted on said base, a positioning plate pivotally secured to said swinging plate, means carried by the positioning plate for supporting a cast of the bottom portion of a foot, said means being adjustable relatively to the plate to position the vertical center line of the heel end of the cast at right angles to the upper surface of said positioning plate, a wedge member interposed between the base and the swinging plate, a second wedge member interposed between the swinging plate and the positioning plate, and means for moving the wedge members toward and away from each other to position the heel end and at least one side of the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast in the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members.

17. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in the same plane, an adjust-able plate, means whereby said plate is carried by the base, a plurality of supports carried by the plate and arranged to engage the heel end and the opposite sides of the forepart of a cast of the lower portion of a foot, one of said supports being adjustable relatively to the plate to position the cast with the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to the upper surface of the plate, and means for adjusting the plate with respect to the base whereby the heel and and the forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be moved into the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members.

18. A device of the class described comprising a base having side members secured thereto the upper surfaces of which are in the same plane, an adjustable plate, means whereby said plate is carried by the base, said plate having pins extending equal distances above its upper surface and arranged to support the heel end and one side of the forepart of a cast of the lower portion of a foot, a Wedge also carried by said plate and arranged to support the opposite side of the forepart of the cast, said wedge being adjustable lengthwise of the plate to position the cast with the vertical center line of its heel end at right angles to the upper surface of the plate, and means for adjusting the plate longitudinally whereby the heel end and the 'forepart of the bottom surface of the cast may be moved into the plane of the upper surfaces of the side members.

SIDNEY J. FINN. 

